I had to stop this week and remind myself….

Do a Google search for “how the pandemic has change our lives” and you will come up with more than 143 million hits.  It’s become cliché to speak about the “new normal.” Here in June, we long for what we might have considered mundane back in March.

We miss what was and no longer is.

Life has changed, and will continue to do so, on many levels.  (Another cliché.)

We read about and view scenes of what “reopening” looks like. Some encouraging signs. Many not so.

And with people hurting from the challenges associated with unemployment, housing, healthcare, discrimination, indifference, and more, it can become disingenuous to say, “consider all you have to be grateful for.” Almost dismissive.

But…

…I had to stop this week and remind myself of the people, places, events, and insights for which I am grateful. Those things that remind me that I am fortunate. I had to (and will have to continue to) remind myself. I offer the following list as one that has worked for me. It may not for you. It does not dismiss the experiences of those who hurt at a much deeper level than I do. The list is incomplete. It, however, is a reminder for me to stop and consider that I am grateful for:

Photo by Steve Piscitelli

• My wife
• My canine companion
• Friends
• Where I live
• The Source that makes all things possible
• Sunrises
• Former students who have become my teachers
• People who have spoken up about and acted on injustices
• Health
• The community service projects I get to do
• My writing time
• Exercise in our “Garnasium” (that is, the “garage” that holds our “gymnasium.” 😊)
• Biking around my community
• Civility
• Respect
• Teachers
• The first responders who perform service for the entire community
• Caring neighbors
• Healthy food and drink
• Meditation time
• Experiences past
• Experiences to come
• Community builders
• People who listen
• The beach
• The park
• Choice
• Today
• Yesterday
• Tomorrow

Video Recommendations for the Week

Remember and Hope.

Make it a great week and HTRB has needed.

My new book has been released.
eBook ($2.99) Paperback ($9.99). Click here.

Roxie Looks for Purpose Beyond the Biscuit.

Well, actually, my dog Roxie gets top billing on the author page for this work. Without her, there would be no story.
Click here for more information about the book.

In the meantime, check out her blog.

And you can still order:

• My book, Community as a Safe Place to Land (2019), (print and e-book) is available on More information (including seven free podcast episodes that spotlight the seven core values highlighted in the book) at www.stevepiscitelli.com.
• Check out my book Stories about Teaching, Learning, and Resilience: No Need to be an Island (2017). It has been adopted for teaching, learning, and coaching purposes. I conducted (September 2019) a half-day workshop for a community college’s new faculty onboarding program using the scenarios in this book. Contact me if you and your team are interested in doing the same. The accompanying videos would serve to stimulate community-building conversations at the beginning of a meeting.

My podcasts can be found at The Growth and Resilience Network®.

You will find more about what I do at www.stevepiscitelli.com.

©2020. Steve Piscitelli
The Growth and Resilience Network®